A Global Portrait of Wildlife and Wild Places

A biennial production of the Wildlife Conservation Society and Island Press, State of the Wild is a collection of evocative essays featuring emerging issues in the conservation of wildlife and wild places. The book brings together international conservation experts and writers to analyze our time's most pressing environmental topics. Seeking to broaden awareness of major trends that are affecting the state of the wild across all continents, it also includes highlights of recent discoveries and conservation news.

Special Section on Conservation in a Time of War

The 2010–2011 volume includes five essays that explore the many ways wildlife and wild places are impacted by war, and how conservation and natural resource management can contribute to reconstruction. Since 1950, 80 percent of human conflicts have erupted in countries that contain areas of high biodiversity. Topics covered in the book reflect these and other emerging issues in the natural world, explain the science behind the problems, and offer unique insights into the art and practice of conservation.

Advance Praise for State of the Wild 2010

"In times of war, it is easy to forget about the indispensable role natural resources play in supporting human livelihoods. Among other topics, this book reminds us of the toll war takes on wildlife and the challenges of conservation in conflict zones."

–David Jensen, UN Environment Programme, co-author of From Conflict to Peacebuilding: The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment

Canine Detection Teams and Conservation

Megan Parker, WCS-North America, and Aimee Hurt, Working Dogs for Conservation, illustrate how remarkable "sniffer dogs" help biologists find evidence of wild species in the field.

People across the globe are doing exemplary work in the field to save wildlife and wild places, but many of their stories go untold. These true conservation heroes are working against great odds to preserve the natural world for future generations.

Eco-guards of Chad

Though 17 state employees working with the Zakouma National Park Protection Unit have been killed by poachers since 1990, the unit's commitment to save the park's elephants remains strong.

Yuri Melini

Founder of an environmental nonprofit in Guatemala, Melini works tirelessly to protect the country's Maya Biosphere Reserve–the largest protected area in Mesoamerica–from being overtaken by private interests such as resource extraction.

Habiba Sarabi

The first female governor of an Afghan province, Sarabi helped to establish Band-e-Amir National Park and works to ensure that the development of ecotourism goes hand in hand with the conservation of the landscape.